OFFICIAL SAINTS VS. PATS PRESEASON GAMEDAY THREAD

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; Yeah Jim and Hokie spent as much time joking about names and how &quot;exciting&quot; the game was as they did calling the game. And I don't blame them... That was the best part about listening to it. I'm glad the ...

Yeah Jim and Hokie spent as much time joking about names and how "exciting" the game was as they did calling the game. And I don't blame them... That was the best part about listening to it. I'm glad the game wasn't on tv in my area.

I'm officially over the excitement of just having football back, and have returned to hating the preseason. Can't wait for the real thing, though.

They were doing wonky things like, on 3rd down calling a pass route that is 3 yards short of the marker...on purpose....just to see if the receiver could fight and get it on his own. Seems like the coaches were sometimes in cahoots with each other to run types of plays, or target certain people, to try and learn things about bubble guys on their own squad. I think they had "Run it up my gut, I want to test my guys" or "we need to see if our backup QB can read the blitz, so give him a few different looks" type of conversations. Of all the preseason games I knew this one would be "the dud" because Bellichick and Payton are friends, and they are way too smart to just line up and let them play normal football...I'm sure both sets of coaches were looking at specific stuff. So make of it what you will.

Last year's Super Bowl team, did not make it across midfield with the starters in, I'll take it.

They were doing wonky things like, on 3rd down calling a pass route that is 3 yards short of the marker...on purpose....just to see if the receiver could fight and get it on his own. Seems like the coaches were sometimes in cahoots with each other to run types of plays, or target certain people, to try and learn things about bubble guys on their own squad. I think they had "Run it up my gut, I want to test my guys" or "we need to see if our backup QB can read the blitz, so give him a few different looks" type of conversations. Of all the preseason games I knew this one would be "the dud" because Bellichick and Payton are friends, and they are way too smart to just line up and let them play normal football...I'm sure both sets of coaches were looking at specific stuff. So make of it what you will.

Last year's Super Bowl team, did not make it across midfield with the starters in, I'll take it.

They were doing wonky things like, on 3rd down calling a pass route that is 3 yards short of the marker...on purpose....just to see if the receiver could fight and get it on his own. Seems like the coaches were sometimes in cahoots with each other to run types of plays, or target certain people, to try and learn things about bubble guys on their own squad. I think they had "Run it up my gut, I want to test my guys" or "we need to see if our backup QB can read the blitz, so give him a few different looks" type of conversations. Of all the preseason games I knew this one would be "the dud" because Bellichick and Payton are friends, and they are way too smart to just line up and let them play normal football...I'm sure both sets of coaches were looking at specific stuff. So make of it what you will.

Last year's Super Bowl team, did not make it across midfield with the starters in, I'll take it.

I agree.... Starting offense looked like.... well a tired starting offense.. Good not great.

As soon as they left the field It did look like the coaches made a huddle and asked... 'Who can we fk with next?"

Point to mention: The pats needed Gronk to not cross the 50.... We can do it at will with out Coleston/Graham...

Not an exciting game for sure, but it had it's spots and entertainment for those who like the D side of the ball more.

On the D, I was very impressed with the 2nd tier of the backfield as a whole. Patrick played well and had a nice pass brake up, Marquis Johnson was probably the best CB out there, had a lot of reps and was a beneficiary of Hicks' pressure up front which resulted in a very easy INT. White had also a very good outing and his lateral movement skills along with his understanding of playing angles really impressed me. Amaya also had couple of nice plays and sure tackles, and Abdul-Quddus was equally good in the limited reps he was in. So, all in all, I think the Saints have been able to increase their talent level at the backfield, even though they "lost" Porter to the Broncos. Another year in the league has seemed to have served Patrick, Amaya and Abdul-Quddus well, and Johnson and White seem to be working out as new arrivals. Also, the new schemes and especially the increased pressure from the front 4 are making it easier for the DBs, which is something GW should've thought more of.

Casillas was all over the place and looked really good until he got a little banged up by Marquis Johnson when the two collided trying to make a play on the Pats' receiver. Chamberlain also showed some great mobility and awareness when he was in the game. I didn't notice Herring, but those three guys potentially present a formidable pass defense trio at LB with great quickness and solid tackling after the catch - at least in the case of Casillas and Chamberlain.

Hicks looked really good in his first game and he really put the effort in even late in the 4th quarter, so that was a joy to see. Like Mayock said during the draft, Hicks has really good north-south mobility, but struggles a lot when he has to pursue east-west, mainly because of his tight hips which make him lose a couple of steps on the initial change of direction, but his speed is good after he gets all squared up.

All in all the front 4 played well, except maybe for when they had Walker and Miller as the interior pairing. Swanson Miller does look to be in a better physical condition than he was last preseason when it took him like two seconds to get of the line. It was also nice to see Broughton on some plays as the LDE, and he really made a formidable "wall of meat" with Hicks on his side for the opposing QB to throw around.

Martez Wilson didn't have a great game and he made those two stupid mistakes on special teams' plays, which both resulted in a turn over. Smith and Galette were the best edge rushers by far, and Jordan showed some pursuit as well meeting up with Smith to finish Brady of in the sack/fumble play. Ellis had a quieter game, but he was able to get some penetration, which was nice to see, but it seemed like Ellis was out of gas quite quickly. I was impressed by Bunkley's mobility and quickness the couple of times Spags had him drop into coverage to the LB level after the snap - he was all over the receiver with Lofton.

Probably the best thing by far that I've come away with from these two preseason games is - along with the improved front 4 pressure - the massively improved tackling, and if the tackling is this good at this point in the season, it'll be tremendous come regular season. Spags has to be the best offseason move the Saints made this season or have made during the Payton era.

"I don't think I'll be thinking at all. I think I'm just gonna go out there and play my balls out" - Martez Wilson | "I'm not bashing people, I'm bashing their opinions because in my opinion their opinion is wrong" - Danno